Electrical connection.



Patented J an. 20, 1914.

J. G. STEARNS.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 22, 1013.

JASON C. STEARNS, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 20,1 914.

Application filed March 22. 1913. Serial No. 756.069.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JASON C. STEARNS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulElectrical Connection, of which the following is a specification Thisinvention relates to an electrical connector suitable for general use,but especially adapted for use in connection with an armored cable forconnecting the same with a lamp or the like.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simple andcompact construction in which the wires of the cable are insulated notonly to the end of the connector but for a distance inside the same andin which the wires are fully protected at the end of the connector wherethey enter it, thisconnection comprising a device cooperating with thearmor and also with the connector.

The invention also involves improvements in details of construction andcombinations of parts as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isan elevation of a connector constructed in accordance with thisinvention showing a practical application thereof; Fig. 2 is a similarview partly in section on enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a similar view ofthe connector showmg the outside nut in section 5 Fig. 4 is alongitudinal central sectional view of part of the connector on enlargedscale; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line5-5 of Fig. 1.

The invention is shown as applied to a cable having an outsideinsulating covering 10 and comprising a pair of wires 11 provided withseparate and independent insulation 12. At the point at which theconnection is to be made the two wires are broughtout from the end ofthe insulation of the cable independently of each other and their owninsulation 12 is continued for a short distance and the ends are bared.Each of these two so-called wires may consist of a single wire or of aplurality of strands, obviously. The cable is shown as provided with awell 'known type of metallic armor 18. At the end this armor is providedwith a solid collar 14.- which is enlarged at the end 15. This end isdesigned to come over the end of the cable and is provided with anexternal screw-thread 16 and with a notch 17 extending through saidscrew-threaded end. The collar 14 may be firmly secured to the metallicarmor 13 by solder or by any other suitable fastening means.

The main portion of the connector consists of a member 20 of hard rubberor other insulating material having a general cylindrical form. It isprovided with a pair of longitudinal conductors 21 projecting to orbeyond one end and extending substantially through the insulationmember. These conductors are provided with longitudinal sockets 22 attheir opposite end for receiv ing the bared ends of the wires 11, thesesockets being countersunk at 23 for a distance for providing an enlargedspace for receiving t e insulation 12 of these wires.

The insulating member 20 is of a general cylindrical form but isprovided with a cylindrical enlargement 25 at a point near one endhaving a square shoulder 26. The portion of this member 20 beyond theshoulder is adapted to come inside the enlargement 15 and the shoulderto come up against the square end of said enlargement. At the end of themember 20 is a projecting pin 27 for entering the notch 17 andpreventing rotation of the end of the armor with respect to theconnector. The wires 11 are held in position in the sockets by means ofscrews 28, preferably assing in through the enlargement- 25. The partsbein in this position a metallic nut 30 is applied. This nut is providedwith an internal screw-thread adapted to fit the screw-thread 16 andwith an internal flange 31 at the other end. It is of such design thatit passes over the outer end of the connecting member 20 and also overthe enlargement 25. Then it screws on the end 15 of the armor so as tobring the square end of the armor firmly againstthe shoulder 26. thusholding these two parts in position. It has the additional effect ofthoroughly protecting the wires inside. The armor, it will be observed,overlaps the end of the connection 20 so that it protects the wireswhere they enter the sockets 23.

The parts so far described constitute the connection but it is shown asprovided with a pair of .pins 35 adapted to engage in notches 36 in thelamp connection or other device which is to be applied.

It will be seen that the connection is of exceedingly simple character,suitable ilor general use, easily taken apart for repairs andreplacement of parts and is of a neat compact appearance. it alsofurnishes a strong and durable protection for the wires 'where they needit the most.

Although I have illustrated and described only a simple form of theinvention, 1' am aware of the fact that modifications can be madetherein by any person skilled in the art without departing from thescope of the invention as expressed in the claims. There'- fore, I donot wish to be limited in these respects but What I do claim is 1. in anelectrical connection, the combination with a cable comprising a pair ofseparately insulated wires, the wires and the insulation thereof bothextending from the end oi the cable, armor on said cable, an

' insulating member having a pair of passages therein for receiving saidwires and the insulation thereof, whereby the insulation of each wireextends into the body of said insulating member, means on saidinsulating member for holding the end of the armor against rotation anddisplacement thereon, and clamping means on the memher "for fixedlysecuring the armor to the insulating member, said insulating memberextending longitudinally through and beyond said clamping means andbeing provided with connecting devices on its extended portion.

2. in an electrical connection, the combination of a cable havinginsulationon the outside thereof, a set of wires projecting from the endof said cable and diverging from each other at the end of saidinsulation, each of said wires having a separate insulating coveringthereon and havin bare ends, an armor surrounding said ca le, a circularinsulating member having a projection adapted to enter the end or saidWitnesses:

neea'zie armor and provided with a pin projecting therefrom, the end ofsaid armor having a slot for receiving said pin and having an externalscrew thread at the end, the insulating member having an enlargedsection near the end which abuts against the end of the armor, and a nutcovering said enlarged section and having an internal screwthread at theopposite end for firmly se-- curing the armor to the insulating member.

3. In an electrical connection, the combination of a cable, a set ofwires projecting from the end of said cable, an armor surrounding saidcable and having an external screw thread thereon, a circular insulatingmember, the end of which enters the end of said armor and is providedwith means forv preventing the rotation of the armor thereon, saidinsulating member also having an enlarged cylindrical section, the endof which engages the end of the armor, and a nut covering saidcylindrical section and having an internal flange for engaging the endthereof and an internal screw-thread at the opposite end fitting thescrew thread on the armor.

4. As an article of manufacture, an electrical connector comprising ablock of insulating material having conductors extending therethroughand each provided with countersunk sockets in one end, said block havinga cylindrical enlargement near the end in which said sockets arelocated, and a cylindrical nut fitting said enlargement and having aninward flange engaging one end thereof and a screw thread beyond theother end of the enlargement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JASUN' C. 'STEARNS.

ALBERT E. FAY, J, ELMER HALL,

